World Briefing | Americas: Bolivia: Protest Over French Utility

By Juan Forero (NYT)

Published: March 4, 2005

Streets in El Alto, a largely indigenous city that is traditionally the flashpoint for antigovernment protests, have been blockaded for two days, with demonstrators demanding that the government immediately close down the French-owned utility that runs the city's water service. In January, the government canceled a 20-year contract with the company, Aguas del Illimani, but allowed it to close its operations gradually. The protesters, angry that the company had failed to provide affordable hook-up fees to people without water, want it to leave immediately. Juan Forero (NYT)